Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing items of light alloy or similar comprises a mould (10) that includes two half-moulds (12, 14), lower and upper, able to be coupled together. The lower half-mould (12) defines a moulding cavity (20) adjacent to a supply duct (16) of liquid metal that passes through it up to an introduction passage (18) of the liquid metal in the moulding cavity (20). The upper half-mould (14) is associated with at least one moveable punch (24) provided with a moulding surface (21) that defines the shape of an item to be moulded together with the moulding cavity (20). Each punch (24) performs the function of a shutter to stop the flow of liquid metal towards the moulding cavity (20). The apparatus includes temperature control means and temperature sensors connected with a control unit (32) that prevents the movement of the moveable punches (24) if the temperature of both half-moulds (12, 14) is not comprised within a predetermined range of values.